OEN Member NewsPDX Women in Tech gives members a boost with new scholarship fund (Portland Business Journal)

Armed with a $10,000 grant from a private family foundation, the group PDX Women in Tech is launching a scholarship fund to send members to technology conferences or workshops.

Applications for scholarships opened Sept. 10 and will close Oct. 31. Up to $2,500 is available to pay for travel, registration or per diem at tech and women-in-business events within the contiguous 48 states.

Award winners will be announced in early December.

“This program is important because one’s ability to grow in their career should not be limited by their boss’ approval or their personal finances,” said Megan Bigelow, PDX Women in Tech board president and founder.

In return, scholarship recipients are asked to share what they learned with the broader PDX Women in Tech membership.

PDX Women in Tech is a nonprofit that has attracted thousands of members since launching in 2012 as an informal networking group. It holds networking events and educational workshops. Last year, it launched an awards program to highlight members’ work.

In May, the group hired Elizabeth Stock as its first executive director. Over the summer it released its latest State of the Community survey outlining the experience of members working in Portland’s technology industry.

Bigelow has wanted to launch a scholarship program for some time. The funding was secured through The Folley Foundation. The private family foundation reached out to PDX Women in Tech following the group’s summer event in July.